What color to paint my photo studio?

Question

We're building a photo studio at my work. Cove'd walls, lighting, the works. But I can't decide what color to paint it. All black? All white?

I'll be photographing everything from table top products shots, to small vehicles.

White would be better for product shots, but black would lend itself to be more artsy. I'll need to do both, so I guess is it easier to turn a white room black when i need to or a black room white when I need to.

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I'm a Photographer, and most studios are white for one reason is easier to darken the background than making white a black background. Visit photographic studios, they are mostly white.

White give you more flexibility, you can change how it look just by modifying the lighting. You cannot do that with black.

For darkening the background later, you'll need to buy a fabric or paper background or to illuminate just the subject underexposing the background.

Answer 2

Don't do all of either....

When I was an apprentice at a local Master Photographer he did something that saved a lot of money - he painted various sections various colors. This provided multiple backgrounds at a dirt cheap cost. He had standard white and black - but he also had a graffiti scene, porch scene, beach scene, etc painted onto the walls. The scenes were 5 feet wide (obviously intended for individuals) and 10 feet high.

He also built larger scenes onto door like flats so you could have 4 - 5 scenes in one area. They just opened up from one central point as if they were multiple doors.

Answer 3

It's usually better to photograph still lifes on a table with a sheet covering it and a sheet for the back drop (at least thats my opinion!) so I don't see how the color of the walls would influence your shots!

I think soothing colors will be best, such as pastels. Think Easter! Pinks, blues and greens. Stay away from yellow! The color has a tendency to bring out friction (for some reason it makes people uneasy to be in a yellow room). And you do not want any friction at work (or more of it!)!

Answer 4

I think you should go funky. Have a nice pastel color in the background and have like bright cicles or any othr kind of shape painted around to give the room a geometrical funkiness. Or you can go trendy with a plum purple with a softer purple to enhance it a bit.

Answer 5

I am a photographer of nature, architecture, and oddities. would like to paint my show room but im not sure what color I should use. I don t take pictures there I just use the walls to hand/display the photos I have taken. please help me...thanks

Answer 6

Paint it Black. Most tabletop studios are black and if you suddenly need a white wall use a 4x8 flat and light it.

Good luck

Answer 7

Black one side because it is a good background for portraits and still life's and white on the other because you might want a different look and you can put up colored drpaery easy.

Answer 8

i'd say bordeaux color, or intense purple with lime
; ))